Keep in mind, first of all, that it’s the last possible deadline that matters most – as far as a full season goes, that could be as far as two weeks after November 2 – and even then, a few games lost early in the season is probably not a make it or break it factor here.

Despite all the posturing and the PR stunts – the talk of “back to the drawing board,” or “we’re not even speaking the same language” – both sides appear close to deal-making territory, regardless of the current dispute surrounding the time frame – the “phase in” or “make whole” stuff – of implementing the ~50/50 split.

If Tyler’s numbers are right, and they seem to be, even under the NHL’s conservative 5% growth projection the gap between the two sides after the PA’s most recent proposals is below $490 million over a six-year CBA. Dellow breaks it down to $81 million a season, or 2.7 million per team per season. James Mirtle puts a percentage estimate of the gap at 3% of HRR.

These are numbers to keep in mind as both sides continue to squeeze for additional concessions. So too is the fact that last week was not the first time Bettman has described the league’s proposal as its best and last. It doesn’t make the whole process any less horrible, and this is not to suggest that greed is always logical or that the final concessions will come easily, but the numbers simply don’t add up to a lost season. They never have.

Alec Brownscombe is the founder of MapleLeafsHotStove.com, where he has written daily about the Leafs since September of 2008. He was also the editor of the 2009-12 Maple Leafs Annuals. You can contact him at [email protected]